MASHED SWEET POTATOES WITH APECAN CRUMBLE

Sweet potatoes are my favorite dish on the Thanksgiving table!!! My family cracks up at me because you can do Sweet Potatoes so many ways.....and I do!! Candied,... baked and topped with everything you can imagine.....mashed....roasted with other goodies....so many ways and I love them all!!! I love this one because I am a huge fan of the Sweet Potato Casserole, but am actually not a huge fan of the classic marshmallow topping. I think maybe it is just a little too much for me. Now, you can definitely use the marshmallows here but I prefer the topping be a buttery, nutty pecan crumble. It is sooooooo good!!! I could eat this entire bowl.....make alot if you don't like to share!!!!

I like to rub the sweet potatoes with a drop of olive oil just to coat before putting them on a baking tray in the oven.

TIP---- I am making a large dish because I have lots of mouths to feed, but you can just cut everything in half to make a smaller portion. Especially the crumble, I just love this part so I make a ton, but feel free to cut it in half if you are only feeding a few.

So bake them in a 400 degree oven for about 45 minutes, turning one halfway through so they cook evenly. When they are fork tender, soft and mushy, take them out and allow them to cool enough to handle.

When they are cooled enough just cut them open and scoop the potatoes out of the skin with a spoon right into a mixing bowl.

​Once you have them all in the bowl, you can add the sugar, half & half, butter, eggs, vanilla & salt. I like to use a potato masher with these and mix it by hand. Sweet potatoes are soooo soft you do not really need a hand mixer but you can if you choose. Just don't over mix. Or use a slow speed.

Now get it all into an oven safe bowl. I love using these glass bowls so you can see the layers. It makes a beautiful presentation. Smooth it all out with the back of a spoon.

Now for the crumble.....so easy. Just grab a mixing bowl and add in the sugar, crushed pecans, oatmeal, salt and flour. Mix it all together.

Add the melted butter....you can start mixing with a fork but once it is somewhat incorporated. I like to just get in there and mix with my hands. It makes the crumbs come together nicer.

​Now just lay it all on top of the mashed potatoes evenly........

Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes or until your crumble is a beautiful golden brown on top and your house smells soooo good you want to eat the entire bowl!!!!